An elementary school on Green Island off Taiwan's east coast holds rather special graduation ceremonies. Teachers hope this underwater experience will build up students' courage and deepen their connection to their hometown.
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00:00These divers aren't just here to admire the colorful fish.
00:07They have an important task, preparing for Gongguan Elementary School's graduation ceremony
00:13under the sea.
00:14Located on the outlying Green Island, the school was the first in the country to hold
00:18an underwater graduation in 2014.
00:21Since then, it's become the school's unique tradition.
00:24This year, eight graduates are taking on the ceremonial challenge.
00:33About 30 kilometers off Taiwan's southeastern coast, Green Island is a top diving spot.
00:38The seaside school takes advantage of its location to introduce students to the ocean
00:42early on.
00:44Starting from kindergarten, the kids learn to swim in the harbor in front of the school.
00:49They move on to snorkeling, to canoeing, getting ready for scuba diving step by step.
00:53Many concepts of learning can be learned through AI or other computer tools.
00:58But only in the forest and the ocean, students must be able to go to the forest and the ocean
01:06to learn about the real world.
01:08In this kind of training, the kids are confident and able to find their true selves.
01:18After years of preparation, the big day comes.
01:21Each student was led into the water by their trainer.
01:25When they reached the spot where the teacher and officials waited 10 meters below, they
01:28received their diploma.
01:32As part of the celebration, the graduation group also visited Green Island's famous
01:36diving spots, including this heart sculpture and the seahorse mailbox, located 60 meters
01:42off the island's coast.
01:44This underwater mailbox is the deepest functioning mailbox in the world.
01:48Surrounded by fish, the children sent waterproof postcards addressed to themselves in the
01:53future.
02:00Proud parents joined the children underwater to witness their growth.
02:04When they were in the water, it was like swimming, it was like breathing.
02:10What touched me the most was that when the children were swimming in the water, it was
02:15as if they were flying in the sky.
02:17The students graduate with both their diplomas and junior open water diver certifications.
02:23Supported by their parents and teachers, and equipped with the courage and wisdom gained
02:27from the ocean, they can dive into the next chapter of their lives.
02:31Scott Wong, Pichie Zhuang, and Sunny Chee for Tawan Plus.